The time has come to demonstrate. It will make a difference.
So Pris from La and I have picked a place and time that we think will have the greatest impact.
And we need all the help we can get.
Friday June 26 at 5PM at the Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills (Topanga Cny. and Califa ) will be the 1st Single Payer Happy Hour. The idea is to do it every last Friday of the month at this strategic location.
Strategic because it is very close to the HQ of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California, the national HQ of Health Net and others. Believe it or not the Happy Hour bit was Pris' idea, not Shockwave's. It makes sense. Let's make it a positive event rather than an angry demonstration.
Here is the Facebook page for the event;
http://www.facebook.com/...
More details below.
We talked to the City of LA. They directed us to LAPD for a permit. We talked to LAPD. They said unless we marched we only needed an OK from Parks and Recreation. We talked to Parks and Recreation and they said there was no need for a formal permit unless we used a megaphone or sound system. So soap box yes but no megaphone. I told them that we expected about 50 people. They said no problem but if it was going to be larger we should advice them. We'll take our chances on this item. We'd like to see hundreds but perhaps it will not happen until next time on Friday July 31st.
nyceve is part of our organizing committee.
We talked to the California Nurses Association and they seem very supportive.
We are now going to start circulating fliers among other organizations.
This is the normally sleepy Warner Center Park, remember we gather at the corner on Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Califa, where we'll make some noise.
Pris and I will be there even if it is just us two. But we are hoping that Angeleno Kossacks will join us too.
So why Single Payer? To move the Overton Window to the left as Pris says. To put Single Payer on the negotiating table so that if there is a compromise it is a true compromise not one that starts by discarding the ultimate destination to start with. To support the Obama administration in its efforts to deal with spineless Democratic congresscriters.
Pris from LA and I will blog about this every day until June 26 to update you about the latest developments.
So, Single Payer Happy Hour is calling.
Also posted at My left Wing.